Over this past weekend a tremendous feat happened in our wrestling world that many of us in this wrestling community would overlook. The first weekend of competition is always something that brings a sense of excitement for those around the state that are associated with this great sport. We revel in the anticipation of the new season that has finally arrived. However, there was one team that competed this past weekend that was wrestling for so much more. A little over 2 weeks ago the Harmon Hawk wrestling team was devastated to hear of the loss of one of their teammates, who was shot and killed while working his part time job. I cannot imagine how those young men and women, as well as their coaches, could possibly have felt to hear this news. How do you go on after such a tragedy?

Well, if there is one thing that we all know and love about our sport is that it teaches us resiliency. We often reference wrestling as a microcosm of life. It is a guarantee that at some moment in our lives that something, or someone, is going to knock us down and we pride ourselves as wrestlers in our ability to take those hits, stand back up and keep moving. We train ourselves to ignore that little voice in our heads that says "we can't." The young men and women from the Harmon wrestling team had every reason to tell themselves that "they couldn't." They had experienced a tragedy that no child should have to face. But with a true wrestler's spirit, they chose to stand back up and to keep moving forward. They chose to compete. And not only did they compete...they won their first tournament of the year!

They won the Wyandotte County Classic for the first time in the history of their program (at least to the knowledge of those involved with the school and the program.) They did not win the Bobcat Classic, Newton ToC, Garden City Invite, Regionals or a State title...and it doesn't matter. For the Harmon Wrestling family winning this tournament is so much more. They silently displayed to each of us the truest sense of resilience that our great sport teaches us every day. These young men and women persevered through an unthinkable adversity that many of us would never fully understand.

Congratulations to the Harmon Hawk Wrestling team. Your grit and resiliency are inspirational. Best wishes on the rest of your season.